Man City charged for FFP breaches over 9 years

Manchester City have been charged by the Premier League over breaking financial rules across nine seasons, the league announced on Monday.

The Premier League confirmed a number of alleged breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons have been referred to an independent commission following the conclusion of a four-year investigation.

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The statement read: “In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.”

ESPN have approached City for comment.

In July 2020 City had a two-year suspension from UEFA club competitions overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after initially being found guilty of “serious breaches” of financial fair play regulations between 2012 and 2016.

City were first charged by UEFA in March 2019, prompting the Premier League to launch their own investigation.

In their verdict clearing City, CAS ruled that much of the evidence had fallen outside of a five-year time limit. The Premier League have not been bound by the same limit.

City could be at risk of severe punishment. The Premier League’s rule book gives a disciplinary commission powers to impose a range of sanctions plus the wider scope of “such other penalty as it shall think fit.”

Last season, City won their sixth Premier League title since their takeover in 2008. Roberto Mancini managed the club to a league title in 2011-12 before a Manuel Pellegrini-led City side won the league in 2013-14.

Pep Guardiola has guided the club to three league titles since his appointment in 2016.

They have also won two FA Cup titles and five League Cup trophies since their Abu Dhabi owners City Football Group (CFG) took over the club.

Guardiola’s side sit second in the Premier League table this season, five points behind leaders Arsenal.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.